Looking for Harissa - Edmonton

[raidar]

I an trying to track down Harissa. I stopped in at a few grocery stores today, along with the Spice Center on 34th Ave and no luck. Does anyone have an idea where I can track this North African hot sauce/paste down? Thanks

[jbrcoll]

I was just reading Liane Faulder's blog Eat My Words. She refers to Todd Panchuk, owner/operator of Old Country Meat and Deli (6328 106th St.), as selling his own harissa. Might be worth a check!

[foodiesnorth]

I realize this is an older post for the most part, but there is a great little store on 118th street across from : A Yah Mi Deh Jamaican Restaurant & Bakery at 4435 118 Avenue. It is called something like Africa Shop. it has a really good selection of African and Carribbean food supplies. I would be shocked if they did not have harrissa.

I gotta try Panchuk's house made(!) harissa. that sounds great. As for A Yah Mi Deh...not impressed. The fish was good...the chicken was precooked with some sauce on it.

[cwant]

I was in the Southside Spinelli's this evening and they had harissa in a tube. They keep it right next to the McIlhenny's Tabasco sauce. Cheap too, $1.69 for a tube.

I put some of the harissa I bought earlier in the week on a steak sandwich -- great flavour, and a real spicy kick!

Regards,
Chris

[SeitansMinion]

For those south-siders, I just bought a can of "harissa sauce" at the SS Italian Centre Shop on 51 Ave and 104A St. It is Cedar brand, a yellow can, and I found it with pickled peppers, etc on the bottom shelf of the aisle that faces the deli. On the side closer to the freezers. It was $2.98.

Haven't tried it though!

[cwant]

I found some on 107th Ave and 110th Street at a place called OMDE Supermarket. They had 3 different sized cans, so I grabbed the smallest one, which was about $1.50 or so. Now, what to do with it, hmmm .... (never tried it before, but saw it last night on the Food Channel and it looked tasty).

Regards,
Chris

[Mummsy]

This website is the best. Yet again I found a source for an ingredient.

[raidar]

Just wanted to say thanks for the all the suggestions, and that I picked up a few cans of harissa this morning from Westgate Halal Meat. Time to cook!

[egon61]

80% Sure I've seen it at Elsafadi Bros.

I posted contact info so you can call first to check before heading out there.

Elsafadi BROS Super Market @ Mediterranean Market 11316 134 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, AB T5E1K5 [phone]

[raidar]

I actually stopped in there while I was getting lamb from Hajar's next door (which is why I would like the harissa), but no success.

[Musealot]

Hi - after reading this board, I called Westgate and they confirmed they had the harissa.
I got a can for $3.50. I also checked the italian grocery store on the southside, but it didn't look like they carried it. I didn't ask, just checked the spice & hot sauce shelves.

[Dan G]

how big is the can, and what do you do with the remainder after you open it (I have visions of tomato paste here...). The stuff I bought in calgary was conveniently in a tube.

[Musealot]

The can was big and looks a lot like tomato paste ... I'd say it was about the size of a small soup can ... I've refrigerated the rest in a small tupperware container ... now what to do with all that harissa!!! I used some with couscous and sauteed chicken. who mentioned the lamb? and what were you going to do with it? Westgate village is a halal meat place ... they both lamb and goat in their display ... it looked very good. They also had chickpea flour ... half the price of Planet Organic's.

[Dan G]

I didn't mention lamb in this thread, but may have elsewhere. Slather the harissa paste on a couple of lamb shanks, a good thick coating, and marinate 24 hrs (or more). then braise in something...I think last time I cooked mine in a pot of red wine, beef broth, cloves,cinammon, cumin seeds, brown lentils...really should write my experiments down because that one turned out really well!

[raidar]

Thanks for the confirmation! I couldn't find it at the south side Italian Store either.

[jim bachinski]

I got my can from the little italy location.

[llkerr]

I'm sure I've seen it previously at the middle eastern grocery store right by Value Village on 163rd street. I can't remember the name, but Google leads me to believe this might be it:
Westgate Halal Meat & Deli‎
9550 163 Street NW
[phone]‎

FYI, I just bought some at the Shaganappi grocery store (in Calgary) which is in the strip mall on 17th Ave & 37 St SW by Liquidation World.
http://www.muslimsofcalgary.ca/shagan...

[cleopatra999]

there is another spice store right near there called spice island at 10058 163 Street NW, you could try there too.

[llkerr]

Yum, I love Spice Island. I hadn't looked for harissa there since they specialize in jamaican/indian foods. I had noted that their saffron prices were much better than places like the Italian Centre Shop.

[Dan G]

good luck, and if you find it post here. I hunted and hunted, ended up getting at cookbook store last time I was in Calgary but I'm almost out. Not hard to make, but more convenient to buy...

[raidar]

I'll try and hit up Spinelli's. I was starting to wonder if I just couldn't pick out the package, but it sounds like it may not be the easiest to find. I'll have to google a recipe Dan G, but it would definitely be easier to have a ready made supply.

[jim bachinski]

Try spinelli's in little italy- isle closet to frozen items. i bought a small tin of "conserve d'harissa". have not opened it yet, so cant tell you what its like.